Danny Boy - Irish folk song (popular Irish songs)

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Irish tenor Martin McCormack of Switchback sings Danny Boy. Switchback was named Top Irish Duo of 2008 in the US, UK and Ireland by the Irish Music Association. This famous song is set to the melody of "Londonderry Air" (an old Irish tune originating in County Londonderry in what later became N. Ireland) and is also known as "Oh Danny Boy." In this video Martin McCormack and Brian FitzGerald (guitar) perform the tune at the Historic Elk Rapids Town Hall in Elk Rapids, Michigan. "Danny Boy" is a ballad written by Frederic Weatherly. Weatherly gave the song to the vocalist Elsie Griffin, who made it one of the most popular songs in the early 1900s. It is considered to be an unofficial signature song and anthem, particularly by Irish Americans and Irish Canadians. The band Switchback is comprised of Martin McCormack and Brian FitzGerald. Visit Switchback's website at WayGoodMusic.com.

Switchback (Martin McCormack, Brian FitzGerald)
Danny Boy ("Oh Danny Boy")

Oh, Danny boy, the pipes, the pipes are calling
From glen to glen, and down the mountain side
The summer's gone, and all the flowers are dying
'Tis you, 'tis you must go and I must bide.

But come ye back when summer's in the meadow
Or when the valley's hushed and white with snow
'Tis I'll be there in sunshine or in shadow
Oh, Danny boy, oh, Danny boy, I love you so.

If you come, and all the flowers are dying
And I am dead, as dead I well may be
You'll come and find the place where I am lying
And kneel and say an "Ave" there for me.

And I shall hear, tho' soft you tread above me
And all my dreams will warmer, sweeter be
If you'll not bear to tell me you love me
I'll simply sleep in peace until you come to me.

But should I live, and should you die for Ireland
Let not your parting thoughts be all of me,
Breathe a prayer to God for our dear sire-land,
That He may hear, and He may set her free.
And I shall take your place and pike, my dearest,
And strike a blow, though weak that blow may be.
For the cause to which your heart was nearest,
And you shall sleep in peace until you come to me.